Slug-detecting device for coin-controlled machines



Oct. 12 C1926. 1,602,487 F. HEDLEY El AL SLUG DETECTING DEVICE FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES Filed May a, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmmml.

J BY mATToR il r 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Oct. 12 1926.

. F. HEDLEY ET AL SLUG DETECTING DEVICE-FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES Filed May 6. 1922 BY ATTORN Oct. 12 1926. 1,602,487

F. HEDLEY ET AL SLUG DETECTING DEVICE FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES Filed May 1922 4 Shets-Sheet 5 7 51M, BY ATTORNE- INVENTOR Oct. 1 2 ,1926. 1,602,487

. F.HEDLEY ETAL SLUG DETECTING DEVICE FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES Filed May 6, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 07 INVENTOR BY ATToR Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK HEDLEY, YONKERS, AN D JAMES S. DOYLE, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

SLUG-DETECTING DEVICE FOR COIN-CONTROLLED MACHINES.

Application filed May 6,

This invention relates toslug detecting devices for coin controlled machines.

The object of theinvention is to provide means for detecting slugsdeposited in slot machines.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby, when a spurious coin or slug is deposited in a coin controlled machine, the presence and character of the deposited coin is revealed in magnified form through suitably disposed magnifying devices.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and final- 1y pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring. to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a slug detecting device embodying the principles of our invention.

-Fig: 2 is a View in horizontal section on the line 2, 2, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view, parts broken off, parts in elevation, and parts in vertical section, on the line 3, 3, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a detached detail view of one form of prism lens employed for magnifying and reflecting the image of a deposited coin or slug.

Fig 5 is a broken view, partly in elevation, and partly in vertical section, on the line 5, 5, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing a slightly modified arrangement, embodying our invention, and wherein an ordinary magnifying lens is employed.

Fig. 6 is a broken detail view in top plan of the construction shown in Fi 5.

Fig. 7 is a view in vertica section on the line 7, 7, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a viewin section on the line 8. 8. Fig; 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a viewin diagram illustrating a circuit arrangement employed in a coin controlled apparatus suitable for use in connection with a slug detecting apparatus embodying our invention.

1922. Serial No. 553,975.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. 1, and embodying a slightly modified structure.

Fig. 11 is a detached detail view of the form of coin release actuating member shown in Fig. 10.

The same part is designated by the.

same reference numeral wherever it occurs weight of the coin and so ad'usting the apparatusthat it willrespon only when a coin of the required weight is deposited.

It has also been proposed to provide for the operation of such machines only by coins of a specific size, diameter, or thickness. In all such devices, however, the useof spurious coins or slugs are not, and cannot be,

guarded against, since it is a comparatively easy matter to duplicate in a spurious coin or slug the exact size, diameter, thickness, or the exact weight of a coin required to operate the machine. In some classes of coin operated machines the deposited coin .is utilized as a bridging contact member in an electric circuit. The re uirement that the deposited coin be electrica y conductive, however, is only partially successful in eliminating the losses due to the use of spurious coins or slugs since it is a comparatively easy matter to produce slugs out of cheap and electrically conductive material. a

'In accordance with our invention we do not attempt to provide means for eliminating a spurious coin or slug, but we do propose, in accordance with the principles of our invention, to provide means which will reveal visually an enlarged image of each coin deposited in a machine,-and to retain the enlarged image of the coin in full sight of attendants or of others in the vicinit of the machine until another coin is deposited, thereby enabling proper ofiicials as well as other users of'the machine to see or to become aware of the deposit by any-individual of a spurious coin or slug.

to employ a magnifying lens or prism which will enlarge. and reveal to others at a distance from the machine the image of each coin deposited therein, and to retain the deposited coin or slug in position for its image to be magnified and disclosed until another coin or slug is introduced into the machine.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, we have shown one arrangement embodying the principles of our invention, wherein-a coin chute 10 is employed, into whiclf'a coin indicated at 11 is to be deposited for releasing or operating any desired .coin controlled machinery ,or apparatus. Arranged within the chute at any convenient point therein is a stop device, shown in this instance in the form of a pin 12, to arrest and form a. support for the deposited coin, said pin or stop device being movable so as to be withdrawn from sup-,

porting or arresting position. Adjacent, or

in proximity to the point of arrest of the deposited coin, we employ a magnifying lens, shown in this instance, as a. prism lens 13. This lens, in the form shown, is formed with the plane angle sides 14, 15, the. plane face 14 being presented across an open side of the coin chute 1O opposite the point at which the coin is arrested therein, while the plane surface 15 is preferably silvered, and the spherical surface 16 of the prism lens is presented outwardly through the wall of the casing 17 in which the apparatus is mounted.

In this form of our invention, we also preferto silver orcoat the lower surface 18 of the prism lens.

The lens may be held in proper position in any suitable or convenient manner. o have shownfor this purpose lips 19, turned out from the adjacent wall of the coin chute 10, the lens. being slipped into and retained in position by said lips, see Fig. 3. If desired, a retaining plate 20 may be mounted on the frame of the slot machine and formed with a spring lip 21 arranged to engage and detachably retain the lens in proper position. When the coin 11 is retained inthe coin chute opposite the lens it rests upon the supporting pin 12, as above described, and interposed between the coin and the opening in the side of the coin chute, which receives the lens is a suitably transparent member or plate 22, through which the coin may be seen.

The operation of the parts so farv described is very simple. When a coin is deposited in the coin chute 10 it descends therein until arrested by the supporting stop device 12. This point of arrest is opposite the inclined face; 14 of the prism and the magnified image of the coin is reflected from the silvcred or coated inclined face 15 cated at 23, see Fig. 3, may be disposed in convenient relation to the prism lens for the light therefrom to illuminate the reflected and magnified image of the deposited coin.

The coin remains in its arrested position as long as the supporting device or pin 12 remains in supporting position therefor. In the operation of coin controlled machines it is desirable of course to withdraw the re taining supporting device, as, for instance, when a subsequent operation of the apparatus controlled by the coin is desired so as to permit the arrested cointo drop down into the till or coin receiving receptacle of the machine. We propose, in one form of machine to which our detecting device is ap-.

plicable, but to which our invention of course is not to be limited or restricted, to provide means controlled by the insertion of the next succeeding coin for withdrawing the retaining detent 12. We will now describe one form of arrangement for accomplishing this purpose. lVhen the coin is initially deposited in the machine it closes an electric circuit, see particularly Fig. 9, between suitable contacts 24, 25, thereby closing a circuit from a convenient current source 26 through a contact device 27, wire 28, a magnet coil 29, wire 30, contact 24, coin 11, contact 25 to ground at 31. The energization of the relay magnet coil 29 is utilized in any suitable or convenient manner to effect a rocking of a shaft 32, see Fig. 1. Mounted upon this shaft is a finger 33, which, when said shaft is rocked, wipes past ablade 34, carried by a crank arm 35, which is mounted upon a rock shaft 36 suitably journaled in the framework of the apparatus. The rotative movement of shaft 36 is resisted by means of a coil spring 37 mounted thereon. Loosely sleeved upon rock shaft 36 is a hub 38 .of an arm 39, which is arranged to extend transversely through the casing of the coin chute l0, and which carries at its free end the coin detent or pin 12. The hub 38 of arm 39 is recessed or slotted, as indicated at 40, at one edge thereof, and in this slot or recess works a pin 41, carried by the rock shaft 36, thereby permitting a loss of motion between the rocking movement of shaft 36 and the hub 38. The arm 39 is yieldingly retained in one initial position for the coin retaining detent 12 to perform its function as a stop to arrest a coin in the coin chute. This may be accomplished in any suitable or convenient manner, as, for instance, by means of a spring 42. This holds the arm in proper position for the pin 12 to be projected into the raceway to form a-retaining detent or support for the coin with the pin 41 at one limit of the slot 40 in hub 48. When a coin is deposited into the chute the shaft 32, in the particular em: bodiment of our invention as shown in the drawings, is rocked, thereby causing the loo finger 33 to wipe over the ring or plate 34, thereby rocking arm 35 and shaft 36. On the return movement of finger 33 said finger wipes over the wing or vane 34 in the opposite direction, thereby rocking arm 34 in the opposite direction, but by reason of the lost motion connection of pin 41 in slot of hub 38 no rocking movement will be imparted to lever arm 39 when the finger 33 passes over the wing or vane 34 in one direction, that is, in a: direction for finger 33 to be restored to its initial position, but the coin detaining arm or lever 39 will be rocked in a direction to withdraw the detent 12 when the finger 33 wipes by the vane or wing 34 in the other direction. Thus for each coin actuation the detent 12 is withdrawn to permit the previously deposited coin to be released and to drop down into the coin receiving receptacle of the machine and to be restored into position to form a detent to receive and retain the next succeeding coin in position oppo-.

I site the opening in the side of the coin chute 1O opposite the prism lens, so that the image thereof may be reflected and magnified so as to be revealed to any observer in the neighborhood. To facilitate the action of the finger 33 on the wing or vane 34, said wing or vane is beveled at its opposite edges as indicated at 44, thereby facilitating the wiping by of the finger 33 on one side of said wing or vane when swinging in one direction, and on the opposite side thereof when moving in the opposite direction.

In Figs. 10 and 11 we have shown an arrangement of coin releasing devices wherein the coil spring 37, see Figs. 1, 3 and 7, is dispensed with, and instead of a rigid finger 33, to actuate the wing or plate 34, we employ a flat spring 60 which, when shaft 32 is rocked in one direction, wipes past said wing or plate 34, on one side thereof, thereby rocking the shaft 36 in one direction, and which whensaid shaft 32 rocks in the opposite direction, wipes past said wing or plate on the opposite side thereof, thereby restoring the shaft 36 to its initial position, the spring plate 60 securing the desired resiliency of action. By reason of the simplicity of this structure we prefer, in some cases, to employ it, but our invention, of course, is not to be limited'or restricted thereto. r I

With the arrangement above described, it will be observed that the deposited coin slides down the raceway in the chute 10 in straight flat relation, facing towards the opening in the side of the chute in which the prism lens is received, and, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2, the image of the coin is projected in lines normal to the plane of the detained coin onto the inclined silvered or coated face15-of the prism from which surface the image is reflected through the prism lens in lines of angular relation to the lines of pro ect10n of the image upon the inclined surface 15 of the lens. This necessitates a somewhat expensive form of p:ism-

lens. To avoid this we have provided an arrangement wherein a simple lens structure may be used. Such an arrangement we have indicated in Figs. 5, 6. 7 and 8, wherein a simple magnifying lens 45 is employed which is mounted upon the side of the coin chute 46 opposite an opening 47 in the wall thereof at a point opposite the position of a coin deposited in the chute where arrested therein, so that the arrested coin may be disclosed directly through the lens 45 in magnified form. In this case, however, the coin in its arrested position faces fiatwise towards the magnifying lens 45, the latter facing outwardly in a direction at right angles to the slot 48, see Fig. 5, into which the coil. is initially inserted. In order that the coin 49 may face in the proper direction with reference to the lens hen in its detained position, the raceway 50, down which the coin travels from its point of entry to its point of detention, must be given a quarter turn, as clearly indicated in Fig. 7. In this form of our invention a slightly different arrangement of coin detent or device from that described in connection with the struc ture shown in Figs. 1 to 4, is necessary, although the same rock shaft. 36, finger 33, wing or vane 34, arm 35, shaft 36, spring 37, hub 38 and arm 39, with pin and slot engagement 41 and 40 with lost motion of the shaft 36 and hub 38, as above described, are also employed. In this case, however, the arm 39 is so disposed that the coin detaining or arresting pin 52 carried by arm- 39 works, with reference to the coin raceway 50, in the opposite direction with reference to its direction of operation in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

As above explained, a slug detector device embodying our invention is capable of application to and used with any desired form of coin controlled mechanism, and whether the mechanismcontrolled by the coin is actuated by the weight, size or electric conducting or other characteristic of the coin or slug employed, our object being to provide means for temporarily retaining a deposited coin or token in a raceway or chute. after being deposited in a com controlled apparatus at a point opposite an opening or transparent portion of the raceway or chute, opposite or in connection with which is employed means for magnifying the 1111- age of the deposited coin or token so as to reveal the character of the deposited coin or token, and means whereby the deposited coin or token remains in position for its image-to be disclosed in enlarged form until the deposit of another succeeding coin into the machine, thereby revealmg to the public or others in the neighborhood 'very clearly and distinctly the character of, the deposited coin or slug.

lVe have found an apparatus of this nature of particular value in connection with the operation of coin controlled turnstiles, but it is to be understood, of course, that our invention is not to be limited or restricted in this respecct. In the-diagram of Fig. 9 we have shown, a circuit arrangement which is suitable for use with coin controlled turnstile devices of the character with which we have found the detector devices of our present invention particularly useful, but this circuit arrangement, as well as the mechanism of the coin controlled machines, forms no part of our present invention, and is merely shown for the purpose of illustrating one arrangement of coin controlled apparatus in connection with which our detec tor device is suitable for use.

It will be understood of course that many changes in the details of arrangement and of structure may readily occur topersons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of our invention. lVe do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact structure, details and arrangement shown, but having now set .forth the. objects and nature of our invention' and structures embodying the principles thereof, what we claim as new and useful and of our own invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. In a slug detector device for coin con-. trolled machines, including a raceway for receiving the deposited coins, pivoted means for arresting the deposited coins in said raceway, and means for revealing exteriorly of the raceway the arrested coin in magnified size, said pivoted means detaining deposited coins at an angle to the inner face of the revealing means.

2. In a slug detector device for coin controlled machines, a raceway for the deposited coins having an opening in the side thereof, a lens having a reflecting surf-ace,

. means for arresting a coin in said raceway opposite said lens and at an angle to said lens, and means for withdrawing said an resting means.

3. In a slug detector device for coin controlled machines, a raceway for the deposited coins having a tortuous passage, an opening in the side of said raceway, a lens mounted near said opening, a reflecting sur face on said lens, means for'arresting a coin in said raceway in a position to face the reflecting surface, and electrical means controlled by the deposit of a succeeding coin for w thdrawing said arresting means.-

4. In a slug detector device for coin controlled machines, the combination with coin chute having an opening in. the side thereof, a magnifying lens mounted in said opening,

a stop pin extending into said chute to arrest and retain a deposited coin opposite said opening and lens, a spring tensioned arm mounted to release said stop pin from its retaining position and electrical means for moving said arm out of engaging position with the coin. I

5. A slug detector device for coin controlled machines comprising a chute for the deposited coins, said chute having an opening in the side thereof near one end, a reflecting surface and lens mounted at said opening, and means for arresting and temporarily retaining adeposited coin in said chute with surface opposite said opening-to project the image thereof through said lens at an angle to the inner face.

6. In a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a coin chute having an opening in the side thereof near one end, a lcns.

mounted upon said chute over said opening; means to detachably retain said lens in place, a movahly mounted stop device working insaid chute to arrest and retain a deposited coin in position oppositefsaid lens,

electrical means for causing said retaining means to release the co1n,'and a source of light arranged adjacent said lens.

7, In a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a substantially straight coin chute means including a lost motion connection,

for rocking said arm to withdraw said retaining means.

8. In a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a reflecting magnifying prism lens and coin race for receiving and holding [the coin in position and parallel to one face of the reflecting magnifying lens, the coin being held at an angle to the reflecting surface of-the lens and so that when viewing the lens reflecting surface from without the slug detector the coin appears in a magnified undistorted form.

9. In a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a coin chute having an opening in the side thereof, a lens mounted in said opening, a rock arm having means to extend into the chute to form a detent to arrest and retain a deposited coin in position opposite the lens, a rock shaft on which said arm is loosely mounted, lost inotion connections between said rock shaft and arm, and means for rocking said shaft.

10. In a slug detector for coin controlled machines, a coin chute having an opening in the side thereof, a lens mounted said opening, a rock-arm having means to extend into the chute to form a detent to arrest and retain adeposited coin in position opposite the lens, a rock shaft on which said arm is loosely mounted, lost motion connections between said rock shaft and arm, a crank arm earned by sald shaft, a Wing or vane member carried by said ar m, and

means operating past said vane or Wing to engage the same on opposite sldes respectively vhen moved in opposite directions to rock sald shaft. a

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands on this 2d day of May A. D.,' 

